E9

Due to the age of these cars now - there really is no absolute price for anything  -

You can pick up the late 88-89 635 highlines for £500 - but they will be rough, needing thousands spent on them.

For an OK car, irrespective of age, you are probably looking at about 3 grand give or take a lot!

Condition is everything, and well kept examples are rare now, so the price will reflect that.

The first 6 series was the 1970's (?1976 I think) 630cs, with a carb, and manual or 3 speed auto - hugely rare... Infact all of the pre 1980's 6's are very rare - almost none around.

Typicaly you will find 82-88 635's.

An E9 is the 3.0 CSL, the predessessor to the 6 series, and they are extremely rare as well, and were not made in the numbers that the 6's were - you almost never see them, and getting a good one would be a mission I am sure.

I dont quite know the state of affairs in Ireland, but I would be looking for a mid 1980's 635 as the most sensible choice for you; 3-5K would get you something OK, but you would need to spend 6-8K to get a good one, and then you will continually have to open your wallet as you discover things that need fixing - and there will always be things!!!

Bear in mind the E24 6 series was never galvanised, and rust is a problem - and you will not find one without at least some rust... unless its in mint condition, but then you are looking at big money.

Hope this helps, others might disagree with me on points here, but I have said what I think is pretty accurate.

Try the general coupe forum with the E9 questions.

-Ben

PS - Bodywork and trim is very expensive on these cars, mechanics are pretty solid, and give less problems, niggly electrical problems aslo common.

BM

 

On another forum I visit there is a chap who is documenting his E9 engine transplant and restoration - this chap is very knowledgeable and helpfull - goes by the name of 'xatlas0' on bimmerforums.com under the M6 and 6 series section - the post is something like  'M30 NA power' which is worth posting a question as I believe he has done alot of research investigation before deciding to swap out the engine.

Hope this helps - Paul.

Ben - Thought about several at this stage.  Have a thing about Yankee metal as I used to live over there.

Had a 73 Mustang Conv (Yellow) with the 351 Cleveland in her, Twin holley 650's, high lift cams, extractors and a racing tranny. 400 hp at the rear wheels with leaf springs .  From 70 it went like bat out of hell.  Below 70 it just smoked tyres, mental in the wet.  Seen a nice Mach 1 over there for sale and as it happens I'm flying to LA on wednesday so might have a browse.  Looked at a few original GT40s last year in San Diego (USD50k) or so. There was a lovely M1 for sale in Oregon / Washington 6/8 months ago but too much money for me.

The more you look the lore you confuse yourself - old Porsches - 365 especially nice, 70's Ferraris etc etc.  Thing thats nice about the CSL is that its still very distinctly BMW yet difficult to pin down the year unless you know them.  Very fast car given their age and a nice history. Comfortable enough and hopefully reliable enough to do a longish journey in and still have some fun.  2002 is a nice machine but I prefer the lines on the CS / CSL.

I reckon its best to decide a budget and base it around that.  Hopefully the CSL is a good balance for all aspects.  Anyway its early days yet.

I like the porkers but the E9 is more unusual. A mint Escort RS2000 would be a nice car and great fun also from the 70's

That guy with the CSL has not gotten back to me after several emails, not to worry as work and several projects are sapping alot of time at the moment so I'll keep browsing at my lesiure.

If i see anything I'll let you know

Sorry for the Blasmaphe

I apologies and will say 1 hail mary for each year i have been on this planet.

 

I used to have a 70s 911, not desperately comfortable (leaked in the rain), safe (bag of rust) or practical (always broke down in the supermarket carpark)

very quick though, and cheap too. I don't know what a CSL goes for but I can't imagine it being a cheap option. How about a Jensen, or a Merc even?